Apparatus for dispensing liquids.



F. SCHNEIBLE.-

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1915.

Patented May 23,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- III/ll //I Attest: l nventor:

v dim F. SCHNEIBLE. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1915.

1,1 84,03 1. Patented. May 23, 1916. WA A 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E E 3 9 M v lnveiltor:

' Attjvs,

F. SCHNEIBLE.

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, I915.

n0 1 B a a H a W M n Q Q m w. t 3 IIAVIIIIIIIII'II Kvr a w P ill/ l/Il/llllfvlllll/l/ r "I \W g Q 1 l v 3 \m R 0 w Inventor:

-liquid-or liquids to be UNITED STATE$ PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK SCHNEIBLE, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO 0. A. SCll-INEIBLE, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

e APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1915. Serial No. 39.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1,.FRANK SGHNEIBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan of the city of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing liquids and is concerned particularly with a system by which variable quantities of a liquid may be drawn off under the control of a single member, or whereby two or. more dissimilar liquids may be drawn off simultaneously into a common receptacle by manipulation of the said actuating member, the invention when used for the serving of dissimilar liquids also permitting the relative proportions of the various liquids to be fixed.

The invention, as illustrated, indicates two embodiments thereof, in one of which it is possible to draw off three different combinations of the liquid or liquids to be served, while the other shows a far greater number of possible positions for the controlling member and accordingly permits a greater number of combinations, either in volume or composition.

In accordance with the invention there are provided two or more containers for 'the discharged, which containers may or may not be of different capacities, and a controlling valve for each of such containers, the stem of each valve being extended beyond the "alve casing and susceptible of operative engagement by a controlling member arranged to be manipulated manually. Each valve stem is so constructed that the said controlling member or handle will engage it operatively whenin certain positions with respect to the stem but will not engage the stem operatively when in certain other positions. By placing the controlling member in predetermined positions with respect to the stems of the several valves, one or more of these valves can be operated tobring about the discharge of either a predetermined quantity of a. liquid, or a measured quantity of a liquid of predetermined composition. By shifting the controlling member to other positions with respect to the stems of the valves different quantities of liquid or different quantities of liquids of different composltion, can be dispensed.

The invention is not only. concerned broadly with a dispensing system of the character outlined above, but also relates. to.

certain improved devices by which these desired results are secured such as, for example, the containers for the liquid and a common discharge nozzle with which all of the pipes of the system communicate.

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to the accompanylng drawings, in which--- Figure l is a view, partly in front elevat1on and partly in vertical section, of a system embodying the present invention, the showing being somewhat diagrammatic and the. relative perspective of the elements being disregarded in the interest of clearness. Fig. 2 is afragmentary view on a larger scale, partly in plan and partly in section, of a modified structure in which only two containers are intended to be connected in the system. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section taken along the plane indicated'by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing particularly the single controlling member for the valves. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the improved containers to be used in the present apparatus and indicating the controlling valve for the discharge of liquid therefrom. Fig. is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the containers connected in the improved system and indicating particularly a controlling valve and the controlling handle therefor. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a portion of one of the valves shown in Fig. 1 and indicating in dotted lines one position of the controlling member for the valve in which the valve is not operated by movement of the member.

As this description proceeds, it will be pipe 9 for the containers and from wting liquid from the first named side. When the whilei in :Fig. 2 there are illustrated only 5 two valves e, e, which will, of course, serve to control only two containers. Where the apparatus is 11'sed" for dispensing beverages, such as ale, beer, porter, etc., the contamers a,b, 0, d, will preferably be disposed 1n an ice chest f into which will lead a suplpl w 10 will ass the several discharge pipes a, b', c, d leading from the respective contamers a, b, c, (l, and commumca-tlng respectively withvalve casings a 6 0 a", the valves of which are controlled in a manner to be pointed out. Each of the containers a, b, a, d is also in communicationwith the supply pipe 9 through the respective valve casings a 6 0 d through other pipes a, 6 0 (B, respectively. I

Since each of the containers is similar in construction to the other containers and the various pipes communicating therewith and with the supply pipe g, and the controlllng valves, therefor, are also similar to the corresponding parts associated with the other containers, reference may be had to Flg. 5 for a specific description of one of'these containers, such as the container a, and its asso- 'ciated elements. From the supply pipe 9 the liquid flows through a duct 7:. 1n .a plug valve h. It is evident that when the port is in such position as to establish commun1- cation between the short branch 9' of the supply vpipe g, and the pipe efiliquid will flow freely from the supply p1pe 9 into one end of the container a. At the same time, another port 11. in the valve plug it lies 1n such posltion as to establish communication between the other pipe a with which, the container communicates at its other end,

and a discharge pipe 11 which terminates in.

the discharge :nozzle 6, the structure of which will be later described. When the four-way cook it" is rocked in either direction through a quarter turn, the ports h and It will, assume such positions as to establish communication respectively between the pipes at and i and the pipes g and a. With the valve 12. in this position, a reversal of the flow of theliquid with respect to the container (1 will be brought about. container a to beused as a measuring vessel, as will appear more clearly from the detail view shown in Fig. 4. In this figure it appears that a freely slidable, but liquid tight, piston is is disposed transversely of the interior of the container a and this piston separates the container into two' separate compartments. When the liquid moves into the container on one side of this piston k the latter will be moved toward the opposite end of the container, thus forcing outthe liquid on such opposite side while permitthe container to become filled with This reversal'of flow permits thecock h is moved to reverse the positions of .the ports h and'k therein with res ect to the pipes a, a and z, in the manner ere1nbefore indicated, a reversal of inflow and outflow will occur, so that the measured quantity of liquid stored in the container a is discharged to the receiving vessel at the nozzle 11'.

Itymight be well at this time to point out that the container a is of improved construe-- tion in that the measured quantities of liquid to be delivered thereby may be varied through a very simple adjustment. Still referring to Fig. 4, it is evident that the pis be locked in any adjusted position by means,

of a lock nut Z' threaded thereon. Further,

a convenient way of providing for accessibility to the tube Z is found in athreaded cap m adapted to completely inclose the tube l and communicate with the pipe a The cap m is removably secured on the end plate a of the container at. Byremoving the .cap m and loosening the-lock nut Z, it is evident that the tube Z may be moved axially to vary the-effective range of movement of'the piston 10 along the container (1, thereby changing the eflective capacity of the container a and the quantity of liquid discharged therefrom upon each movement of the piston in the manner before described.

The dispensing apparatus havingnow been described the interrelation of the controlling valves for the various containers, whereby variable quantities of liquid or liquids of varying compositions may be dis pensed, will now be pointed out. It is with the interrelation of these units that this invention is particularly concerned.

One simple embodiment of the invention is indicated in Fig. 2 wherein it may be'supposed that the broken pipes G communicate with some main supply pipe, corresponding, for instance, referred to in connection with the description of Figs. 1and5. The How of liquid from the short pipes G to their respective containers, not Illustrated, but corresponding to container a, and from these containers to the discharge pipes 1 (corresponding to tothe supply p p 91 the discharge ipe i hereinbefore described),

may be contro led by the two valves e and 6', one for each container. These v'alvesc and e are the usual four-way, plug type and are shown as pressed into their respective valve casings E, E, by means of spiral springs M seating on removable plu E threaded into the ends of the respectlve valve casings.

the alined stems.

Assuming now that the containers controlled respectively by the valves e and e are of different capacities or contain different liquids, such as ale and porter, or are of different capacities and contain different liquids which are to be discharged into. a

% common vessel, it is evident that the opas hereinbefore pointed out.

erator may slide the single controlling handle n along the stems e of the valvesso as to bring about'operation only of the valve 6', or operation only of the othervvalve 6, when in the position indicated in Fig. 2, or operation of the two valves together, thereby causing the dispensing of such liquid as is in the container controlled by the valve e, or of the liquid in the container controlled by the valve e, or of the liquidcontained in the two containers controlled by said valves, according to Which of the. three positions enumerated above, the handle is placed in..

In Fig. 1 the invention is shown as embodied in an apparatus by which many combinations, as regards quantity, can be obtained. In this embodiment there are four containers a, b, c, d, which are connected to the respective valve casings (1?, b 0 (F, in the manner described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, and the inflow and outflow of liquid from these various containers are controlled Each of the similar generally in concontrolling valves,

shown in Fig. 6',

struction to the valve h 7 within each of the valve casmgs a 6 0 d has its stem extended an-appreciable distance beyond the casing, as indicated respectively at h h, h h These several valve-stems, or mere spindles (as they may be), are journaled. in substantial alinement, each with each, f carried by the chest f. While these bearings f and f are not illustrated in detail, they may be of such construction as to permit axial movement of the respective stems therein for the pIillrpose of compensating for wear of parts. ach of the stems 72 h, h h is formed with alternate depressions and protrusions, or the equivalent, for cooperation with a suitable operating handle N. As shown in Fig. 1, the protrusions are shown in the form of polygonal or square bosses h, h", h", h, formed respectively on the spindles h h, h h, and the protrusions on each of these stems are sidered longitudinally of the stem, but are of a different length from the protrusions on each of the other stems. The depressions or dwell positions for the controlling handle N polygonal protrusions h.

' spindle k formed with }possible in suitable'bearings f and.

of equal length conthe several containers being of its controlling valve h relatively greatnumber (eight) of polygonal bosses h whereby the contents ofthat particular container will be dispensed, in a great number of the possible poi sitions .whlch the controllinghandle N may relatively be given, as will hereinafter appear. Because the contamer a is smaller than any of theother containers,'it is desirable to have its contentsdispensed with the contents of the larger containers, a relatively great number of different times, as a relatively fine graduation may thereby be secured.- The spindle h of the controlling valve for what may be assumed to be, for the purposes of this description, the next larger container 1), may have formed thereon only, say, four The next contamer, such as c, may have its controlling only two polygonal protrusions h, whil the fourth container d, in the illustrated example, may have its controlling spindle h formed with only one such protrusion h. t

In operation, assuming that the smallest quantity of liquid, or that a certain ind of liquid within the container a, is to be dispensed, the handle N will be slid by the operator to its extreme position at the left end of the spindles h, h, 71. h, as shown in Fig. 1, in which position one branch N handle N is then rocked, only 'the valve within the casing a 'will be moved to permit the flow of liquid from the container controlled thereby, in the supposed case, the container 0,. If the next larger quantity of liquid or the liquid in the container 1), is to be dispensed, the operator will slide the handle N one step to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1 where the branch N will engage operatively the end polygonal boss h of the spindle it, While the remaining" three branches N, N N will rest on cylindrical or dwell portions of the other stems h, h,

Operation of the handle N will then cause the valve within the casing b to permit the outflow of liquid from the container 1 graduated quantity graduated in tainer where variable quantities of liquid are to be dispensed, may have the spindle k formed with aand so on, the valves of varying combinations intended always to give either a predetermined quantity of-a single liquid or a predetermined quantity of a liquid of known composition.

For the convenience of the operator, the handle N may be provided with an index finger N 5 arranged to move along a suitable scale 0 graduated to indicate either the quantity of the liquid to be withdrawn when the valve handle N is actuated with the pointer N 5 opposite a certain scale division, or the composition of the liquid for such-a position, The range of movement of the or both. handle N about the valve spindles may be limited by the operatorby means of rods 2 mounted conveniently on the valve casings and extending longitudinally of the spindles on opposite sides of the handle. From the description given, it will be appreciated that in an apparatus of this kind designed to discharge liquids of varying characters from a common nozzle, it is important to guard against commingling of the dead liquid in each discharge pipe with the liquid. dispensed from the remaining pipes, when only controlling valves for the last named pipes are manipulated. To this end, supplemental check valves for each pipe employed in the improved apparatus are provided in the body of the common discharge nozzle, so that each discharge pipe between the main controlling valve and the supplemental check valve is also controlled.-

As shown in Fig. 1, the body 1? of the discharge nozzle z" isarranged with inner passages i with which commlmicate the ends of the several discharge pipes 71 and each of these inlet ducts i is controlled by a check valveg recessed on itsinner face, as at g, and pressed to its seat by a spring r seated on a perforated plate 8 mounted transversely within the nozzle 6 The springs 1' are of such tension as to hold the respective check valves 9 in closed position until the main controlling valve within one of the valve casings a 6 0 (P, is manipulated to permit flow of liquid through the respective dis charge pipes -i, whereupon the check valve controlling the pipe through which the liquid is to pass is unseated to permit the outflow of such liquid. Immediately upon the closing of the controlling valve, how-v be changed by those skilled in the art with} out losing the benefits-of the invention. Ac-

cordingly, it is to be understood that all, changes andrearrangemens and modifications which suggest themselves are to be deemed within the spirit of thisinvention,

provided they fall within thescope of the appended claims. 7

I claimas my invention l 1. Apparatusfor dispensing liquids comprising containers therefor, valves to con 'trol the discharge of liquid from the respective containers, and a singleintegral 'controllin handle. "movable to operative relation with one, two or more of said valves and itself movable to actuate the valves and permit the simultaneous discharge of a variable number of containers.

2. In combination witha source of supply of liquid, apparatus for dispensing said liquid in variableineasured quantities, comprising containers of predetermined capaci ties, valves to control the discharge of the liquid from said containers respectively and means to. actuate said valves, said means being movable selectively as a unitary structure and by a single manipulation into operative relation with one, two or more of said valves to, permit the discharge of variable measured quantities of liquid. 1

3. In combination with a source of supply of liquid containers communicating with said source ofsupply, discharge pipes leading froln said containers, four-way valves controlling the flow of liquid from the supply to the containers and fr om the containers through the-discharge pipes respectively,

said valves adjustable to actuate one, two or more of said valves and itself movable toactuate the valves and permitthe charge of variable quantities of liquid.

4. Apparatus for dispensing liquid com prising containers'of predetermined capacities, valve for controlling the flow of liquid into and from said containers respectively, valve spindles extending beyond the respective valve casings, and a single controlling handle mounted slidably on said'spindles whereby simultaneous movement of the and a single integral controlling handle for I valves by a single'manipulation can be effected, said spindles beingprovided with dwell positionsat which the handle moves freely with respect to the spindle.

5. In combination with a source of supply of liquid, containers of diflerent capacities communicating therewith, a common discharge nozzle with'which all of said contalners communlcate, four-way valves for said containers respectively to control by a single manipulation the flow of liquid to and from the containers, valve spindles extendingbeyond the valves respectively and a on said spindles and arranged to engage the single controlling handle mounted slidably each, a

respective spindles operatively in certain positions whereby the valves can be actuated in variable combinations by a single manipulation of the controlling handle.

6. In combination with a source of supply of liquid, apparatus for dispensing the liquid, comprising containers of different capacities, a common discharge nozzle for the containers, pipes connecting the containers with the source ofsupply and with the nozzle, valve casings connected in the pipe connections, spring-pressed valves disposed in said casings respectively, spindles for the valves extending beyond the valve casings and mounted in alinement each with single controlling handle mounted slidably on said spindles and sections on each of said spindles in which thehandle is operative, the number of such sections on each spindle differing from the number of such sections on each of whereby grauated combinations of variable quantities of liquid can be dispensed through a single manipulation of the handle.

7. In combination with a source of supply of liquid, apparatus for dispensing the liquid, comprising containers of diflerent the other spindles 1 capacities, a common discharge nozzle for the containers, pipes connecting the containers with the source of supply and with the nozzle, valve casings connected in the pipe connections, spring-pressed valves disposed in said casings respectively, spindles for the valves extending beyond the valve casings and mounted in alinement each with each, a single controlling handle mounted slidably on said spindles, sections on each of said spindles in which the handle is operative, the number of such sections on each spindle difierening from the number of such section on each of the other spindles whereby graduated combinations of variable quantities of liquid can be dispensed through a single manipulation of the handle, and a graduated scale across which the handle may be moved to indicate to the operator the character of the combination of liquid to be discharged for each This specification signed and witnessed this 26th day of December, A. D. 1914.

' FRANK SCHNEIBLE. Signed in the presence of- Fmncrs J. MURPHY, WORTHINGTON CAMPBELL.

position of the handle. 

